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Parque de los Gatos (Cat Park) is one of the most popular parks in Cali, Colombia. It’s best known for its colorful cat sculptures, which have become one of the city’s most recognizable public art displays.
Overview of Parque de los Gatos
Parque de los Gatos sits along the north bank of the Río Cali in Barrio Normandia, directly across the river from Barrio El Peñón. It dates back to 1996 when El Gato del Río was installed as part of a riverfront beautification program. Over time, the sculpture became a popular landmark, and on October 19, 2006, the city expanded the space by adding 15 new cat sculptures created by various Colombian artists.
The park is open daily from 6am to 10pm, and admission is free (as of February 2026). The best time to visit is before sunset, when the weather is a bit cooler and there’s still natural light for photos. At night, the cat sculptures are nicely lit, which gives the park a different feel. While Parque de los Gatos is generally safe and attracts families and visitors of all ages, you should still keep an eye on your belongings and stay aware of your surroundings.
El Gato del Río
Artist Hernando Tejada (1924–1998) donated his sculpture, El Gato del Río (The River Cat), as the park’s first installation. Cast in bronze in the studio of Rafael Franco in Bogotá, the sculpture was transported to Cali and inaugurated on July 3, 1996. It weights 3 tons and measures 3.5 meters high, 3.4 meters wide, and 1.95 meters thick.
Las Gatas at Parque de los Gatos
Las Gatas is the public art installation that followed El Gato del Río, beginning in 2006. These female cat sculptures became known locally as “the cat’s girlfriends”, and today around 40 of them are distributed throughout Cali.
Each cat, sculpted by Alejandro Valencia Tejada, has its own story, which is presented on signs in Spanish. You can use your phone to scan the QR code for an English translation. I’ve listed several cats below, in order of their installation dates, with English translations of the descriptions on their signs.
No Hay Gato
No Hay Gato was created by Wilson Díaz Polanco and installed on October 19, 2006.
The most intellectual of all cats bursts onto the scene as the one who, after much research, has discovered that the Cat is not mentioned in the Bible. With her intelligence, this conceptual cat aims to capture the attention of the River Cat.
Sucia
Sucia was created by Rosemberg Sandoval and installed on October 19, 2006.
Defying taste, money, the myth of art, and obligatory trips to North America and Europe, this small cat enters the scene to compete for the love of Cali’s most famous feline.
Vellocino de Oro
Vellocino de Oro was created by José Horacio Martínez and installed on October 19, 2006.
Crafted from 22-karat gold leaf, this cat draws people in, seduced by the fleeting gleam of its shine.
Will the River Cat succumb to this tinsel-and-opulent feline?
Siete Vidas
Siete Vidas was created by Melqui David Barrero Mejía and installed on October 19, 2006.
This pirate cat, with her great sense of humor, has survived seven accidents, fights, attacks, wars, and falls from buildings. She keeps going, never giving up — an example of strength, patience, and hope.
Now she feels happy, having finally found the love and affection of her feline sisters and the cat on the banks of this beautiful and peaceful river.
Gachuza
Gachuza was created by Ángela Villegas and installed on October 19, 2006.
She wants to defend herself from the aggression of the environment and from stray cats who find her irresistible because of her red color and evil coquetry. At the same time, like a porcupine, she stays alert. She only has eyes for her cat, the one from the “Rio”.
Cálida
Cálida was created by Emilio Hernández Villegas and installed on October 19, 2012.
I am as warm as our city and our people, and I represent the determination with which we all can and must fight for it.
I am a mixed-race woman. I possess the beauty and sensuality of the women of Cali, and I want everyone to see in me the vibrant colors of our landscapes and our skin.
I love Cali because it is a generous, joyful, and friendly city that gives its best so that we can all live well.
I wear the Cali shirt because I want to work with all of you to achieve the goals we have set for ourselves. I invite you to also wear the shirt for Our City, a CITY FOR ALL.
Presa
Presa was created by Omar Rayo (1928–2010) and installed on October 19, 2012.
This cat found her form of expression and her language in geometric abstraction, using white, black, and red. In doing so, she echoes what the master Rayo stated before: “In my case, pure colors are letters of an alphabet that belong to me. Therefore, color is redundant; I stick with the pure, the direct, and elemental.”
Bandida
Bandida was created by Nadín Ospina and installed on October 19, 2012.
A playful exercise using images of famous cats from pop culture: Puss in Boots, Felix the Cat, The Cat in the Hat, Pinocchio’s Puss in Boots, O’Malley from The Aristocats, Garfield, Tom, Sylvester the Cat, and Snowball from The Simpsons.
Set within a colorful, archetypally pop design, these images come together to create a festive and playful piece.
Coloreta
Coloreta was created by Pepe Toledo and installed on December 12, 2020.
A seductive feline adorned with vibrant, bright colors presents itself as an alluring temptation. The markings on its back illuminate the gray animal, which has decided to celebrate and go out to conquer, embracing its dark fur as it contrasts with the embellishments that enhance its appearance.
Gata Ingrid
Gata Ingrid was created by María Fernanda Cuartas and installed on May 29, 2023.
The cat is inspired by the ground and represents fertile soil. Its paws and trunk symbolize the plant, its head a kernel of corn, and the basket refers to the final product: pandebonos and buñuelos, which are characteristic of our region.
Pandebono is considered one of the five most important breads in world gastronomy.
Exhibitions at Parque de los Gatos
Further along in the park, during my last visit, we came across a photo exhibition called Barrio Adentro. It featured images from the Afro-Colombian community of Playa Renaciente on the Río Cauca. A total of 20 images, narrated by the participants themselves, lined the path all the way to Puente La Tertulia. The exhibition was installed at the end of November 2025.
